Rearing of the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae) on Different Artificial Diets in the Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae), is one of the most serious pests of Brassicaeous plants worldwide. The suitable artificial diet formulations are required for mass rearing of insects under laboratory conditions. The aim of the study is to determine the most suitable formulation and to reveal the age-stage and two-sex life tables by examining the biological properties of diamondback moth on different artificial diets. Two-way hierarchical cluster analysis was established to determine some biological traits using different artificial diets and white cabbage as a positive control. In hierarchical cluster analysis, the results were obtained in CS diet was similar to control for some biological characteristics such as pupal weight, longevity etc. On the artificial diets, the GRR was the highest on the H&H diet as 39.92±7.22 offspring/individual and the lowest on the tested Tuta diet as 18.92±5.21 offspring/individual. λ and r were the highest in A diet as 1.10±1.01 and 0.10±9.20 days, lowest in Plutella and Tuta diet 1.07±1.70 and 0.07±1.52 days, respectively. R0 was the highest on CS diet (12.08±2.64 offspring/individual) and lowest in Tuta diet (4.58±1.44 offspring/individual). The highest daily fecundity (mx) was on the H&H diet as 8.69 eggs and the lowest on the Tuta diet as 3.06 eggs. The results showed that the CS diet developed in this study may be offered as an alternative diet formulation for mass rearing of the diamondback moth under laboratory conditions.